ARP Odyssey (model 2800) with the 4023 filter Demo

link

via hfinn on VSE.

Oberheim Matrix-12 Demo

link

via hfinn on VSE.

New Dell Latitude to Have Multi-Touch

"Just in case you missed it, at Oracle OpenWorld 2007, Dell demonstrated the multi-touch capability of their new Latitude XT tablet PC. Users will be able to use multiple fingers to draw lines or manage several images simultaneously. Kevin Kettler, Dell's chief technology officer, noted that "it's going to be a great avenue for creative applications to be developed around it." Dell plans on shipping the system sometime in the next few months."

via Gizmodo.

Yamaha CS30L

Back on Oct 14 I put up this flickr shot of the Yamaha CS30L. It looks like it is currently up for auction. The images in the auction point to this flickr set.

Studio Pic

This one in via an anonymous reader. Click the image for a full size shot and spot the synths.

E-Mu Modular, ARP 2600 and Oberheim SEMs

image via Dave's Hot Rod MOTM Shop (click for more), via sequencer.de.

Gem Equinox Sounds Part 2

YouTube via loonytunes1234. Follow up to this post.
"Heres some examples of the Equinox "Grooves" feature.
Individual midi clips/recordings can be assigned to keys and triggered in real time either as multitrack arrangements on each key as in the first part of this video, or as individual midi riffs, great fun."

【石橋楽器店】KORG / Kaossilator デモ・ムービー

YouTube via 1484tv. via Nusonica.

Future Retro Revolution Synthesizer R2

"The new R2 unit, designated by the gun metal grey chassis, has an updated PC board design using a new RAM chip which extends the internal back up battery life from approximately 1.5 years on previous white faced units to now more than 10 years life span. In addition the R2 units include OS version 2.0 making it more compatible for use with our XS semi-modular synthesizer."

click here for more info.
via HarriL.

Oberheim Four Voice, KORG Trident and Fender Rhodes

via ISO50 - The Visual Work of Scott Hansen - do check out the site for some incredible art.
Don't miss the exhibit.

IMG_2160.jpg

flickr by heathercroall.

full size

Based on the tags for the flickr shot, I'm guessing this is a DIY synth at DocFest2007. If you know more about the synth and/or the event, feel free to comment.

click here for a black and white.



Update via Steve in the comments:
"yeah, i've seen them play a few times, was a couple of years ago now. he would strap it on.
there's a photo of it strapped on over here
and a flash player thingy over here"

Vintage

flickr by mjp3000.

full size

Oberheim OB-8

jel anticon sweetcreaminit live bedroom mix

YouTube via officialanticon. I saw this one on Music Thing.
"Jel playing "Sweet Cream In It" from Soft Money live in his bedroom."
You can find his blog JEL IN BEDROOM LOOKING FOR GIGS!! here. You will find one more video there.

Roland MC-202 Micro-Composer TB-303 ish Acid Machine

YouTube via 123synthland.
"Everyone knows we deal in vintage synths professionally (that's right, no brick in a box, Ebay style!). So anyway, here's a short clip of the Roland MC-202 we're about to put up for sale, all entered step time. Disregard the TB-303, I had big plans to post a video the 2 squawking together but things sounded too cluttered with 2 busy patterns. Check my other videos for a 303 clip. This isn't the best pattern in the world, but y'all aren't paying me to make dance tracks, so ya get what ya pay for! :) Email us anytime at minime123@onebox.com"

Oakley TM3030

images via this auction

"Samples
Saw #1 (2.3mb)
Saw #2 (790k)
Saw #3 (700k)
Saw #4 (1.3mb)
Square #1 (1.2mb)
Square #2 (930k)
Square #3 (1.2mb)
Here's the specs:

- The TM3030 is a midi controlled bassline clone that is designed to sound good.
- The design features the same controls as the little sliver box we have all come
to love: tune, waveshape, cut-off, resonance, envelope sweep, decay time, accent and volume.
- Slides and accents are faithfully reproduced.
- This unit contains no internal sequencer. The midi interface is controlled by a pre-programmed microcontroller chip.
- The rear panel houses the audio output, DC input, power switch, midi through and midi input sockets.
- The front panel pots are Alpha 16mm aluminum devices. These offer solidity, long life and feel good.
- The front panel LEDs show slide, gate, accent and power on conditions.
- The power requirements is 24V DC. The unit comes with us power supply.
- For the FET buffer of the VCO I used the 2SK30A-O and for the differential amplifier I put a 2SC1583 like the original design of the Roland TB-303. For the VCA, I used the CA3080 OTA.
- To achieve the best resonance, I replaced R62 with a 6k2 resistor and 10k trimmer in series, and adjusted the maximum resonance to match my real TB-303."

PPG Wave 2.3

images via this auction

SOUNDCHASER Apple II synthesizer demo cassette

via this auction

"demo cassette of the old APPLE II synthesizer! The SOUNDCHASER synth. Rather unusual - I remember seeing Chick Corea demo this thing, and likely it's where I got this from. 1982 as I recall!"
Anyone know more about this one?

Update via Eccentric Genius in the comments:
"Zoiks...what a flashback.

I had one... real similar to an Alpha Syntauri. The Syntauri had a velocity sensing keyboard, the Soundchaser was stuck with an organ style one. The 'chaser had better sequencing software though... 16 tracks as opposed to 4.

Both were based around the Mountain Digital Oscillator boards, which plugged into your Apple II along with a keyboard controller card and gave you up to 16 voice polyphony. The hardware was unbelievably noisy; a noise gate was mandatory to avoid the crazy-makin' drone of 16 leaky oscillators coming at you every single second the thing was powered up.

It had user defined waveforms, which was the earliest proof available that complex single cycle waves for the most part sound like shit... Despite the fact that the oscillator boards came with an attached light pen (for use with the Mountain score editing software), the Soundchaser made you draw your waveforms using the Apples game paddles or joystick. The only place draw-yer-own waveforms was useful was when you got all finicky and drew elaborate and precisely stepped 'staircase' shapes and assigned them to the LFO, which let you harness the zipper effect and gave you a one-key arppegio that would almost be in tune if you drew the shape just right. Of course, the LFO rate tracked the keyboard, which severely limited the usefulness...

Each oscillator was treated as a separate voice; you made your patch by assigning oscillators from the pool, then tweezing each oscillator to death.

There were no filters...just a 4 stage envelope and the lfo. If you wanted anything approaching timbre dynamics you had to get artsy fartsy and assign, say, 4 oscillators to the patch, then meticulously tweeze the envelope parameters for each oscillator to fade from one to the other during the course of the note on event. This could really eat into your available polyphony in a hurry.

It is worth noting that assigning 16 oscillators to one patch gave you one note polyphony, but it was a very large note when you played it.

It supported one keyboard split, and the gamepaddle was used as a pitchbend during performance. I don't recall a mod wheel being implimented.

The sequencer started out as 4 track, then updated to 16. Keyboard input with limited quantization, then you could open up the sequence as a hexadecimal event list and edit pitch and duration on screen after the fact. It was less than intuitive. I paid $1800 cdn in 1981, and used it regularly through the '80s, despite the perils of dealing with outraged soundmen distressed at the presence of the *very* loud radio frequency presence of the Apple onstage. I think my son still uses it back in Toronto...I'm gonna have to ask him."

Roland Juno-106

images via this auction

Yamaha TX816

images via this auction

"This TX816 is an 8 module rack-mount Yahama DX7 in good condition.
The TX816 is a monster DX synthesizer.
Each TF1 module is basically a DX7 condensed down to a single circuit board with almost no front panel controls. Definitely designed for use with external hardware and software controllers the TX816 allows you to easily carry around up to eight DX7s! Software such as MOTU Unisyn, Emagic SounDiver, or even another DX7 can be used to program the sounds in each module via MIDI.
??Each TF1 module consists of a 16-voice, 6-operator digital FM synth engine. So a complete TX816 with all eight TF1 modules would offer up to 128 voices and 48 operators! Each TF1 also features an indepednent balanced audio out (XLR) and MIDI I/O.
Note: On module #3 the memory protect button is stuck. Every other function and button works properly on all modules.
Serial # 3125"

Hartmann VS

images via this auction.
"Neuron VS is a PC and MAC compatible application. The package includes Nuke - an ergonomic hardware controller, built of steady aluminum and attachable to the computer via the USB connector.

Neuron VS is basically built on the same sound engine like the Neuron Hardware Synthesizer. It is coming with a highly sophisticated graphical user interface that perfectly interacts with the hardware controller box. Neuron VS includes 2 Resynators, the Blender module, the Mod- and Slicer Module, a Silver Unit (Multimode Filter plus Time and Frequency Effect unit) and 7 ADSR Shapers (for more details see feature list). Compared to the Hardware Synthesizer, Model maker, Surround capabilities, 4 levels / 4 times Shapers, high-end Delay and Reverb (and - obviously - the beautiful, luxurious user interface of the Keyboard version) are not included.

Neuron VS ships with 300 sounds and 200 Models. Its sound and sound shaping capabilities are amazingly close to those of the Neuron Keyboard synthesizer. This instrument will meet the expectations of many musicians out there, that do not have the money to spend on a Keyboard version - or who simply want total integration of the Neuron into their virtual studio setup.

The Nuke Controller box
With the button you select, which of the Neuron VS Modules is being controlled by the stick:

* Resynator 1
* Resynator 2
* Silver

It is not possible to work on the settings of those Parameter groups without Nuke.

Nuke offers 4 freely definable endless knobs (encoders), that are being set on a third page of the Neuron VS software.

Nuke is a valuable piece of hardware, that was designed to perfectly fit in your hand. It is made of aluminum and offers exactly the same kind of stick controller and encoders you find on the Neuron keyboard. The hand rest is made of special soft synthetic material.


Nuke is included in the Neuron VS software package.

The Resynator Page
The Resynator page allows for the real time setting of all Resynators’ parameters. The Resynators give access to the very heart of a sound. Neuron VS features 2 Resynators - each capable of driving one Model.

Neuron VS comes with a huge variety of Models (ca. 300). The Resynators (and Silver) need , the hardware controller to drive the parameter sets represented by the two bubbles on this page (and the bubble on the silver page). All movements of Nuke’s stick can be recorded in real time and stored as part of a sound.

Additionally, Neuron VS includes 7 ADSR shapers, that are switched by simply clicking on one of the smaller icons.

The Blender offer 10 different settings to merge and mix Models or parts of Models together.

The Silver Page
Silver includes a very powerful multimode filter ( 24dB low pass, 12dB low pass, 6dB low pass, 6dB high pass and band pass) plus two multi effect units. Cutoff and Frequency are being controlled crosswise by the stick or one can use the scrollers to set the parameters separately.

The Frequency FX Module includes a high end EQ / Compressor, Distortion, Ring Modulator, Decimator and SP Warp Effects. The Time FX Module includes Stereo Spread, Left/Right Delay, Flanger, Phaser and Chorus Effects.

Silver includes a dedicated ADSR Shaper for the Filter. All Shapers can be set to Repeat Mode - adding one more very flexible cyclic effect.

Besides that, the silver page is the home of the Mod and the Slicer. Mod represents an LFO. Slicer is a Neuron exclusive Module that allows for cyclic “3 dimensional” modulations.

The Nuke Page
On this page of the software the setting of the freely definable endless knobs (encoders) is being managed. Select the parameter you want to control for each knob and store the setting together with the sound.

Features
* Innovative and award winning neural synthesis engine (template driven Multi-Component Particle Transform Synthesis with real time controllable synthesis model parameters, Artificial Neural Network controlled adaptive sound analysis for the parametric transformation of musical monophonic and polyphonic sounds)
* 2 Resynators, each with 3 Scape and 3 Sphere Levels, Stick recording and Playback function per parameter level
* 1 ADSR envelope per Resynator with definable depth per parameter level
* 1 amplifier envelope per Resynator (ADSR)
* 2 definable free envelopes (ADSR)
* Blender module for manipulating one timbre (from resynator 1) with the properties of another (resynator 2)
* 8 different blender types
* Modulation module Low frequency oscillator with 12 waveforms
* Slicer module for the generation of multidimensional, cyclic modulation with 12 waveforms
* Silver module with multimode filter (24dB lowpass, 12dB lowpass, 6dB lowpass, 6dB highpass, bandpass)
* 1 Silver (ADSR) Envelope
* Frequency FX Module with EQ / Compressor, Distortion, Ring Modulator, Decimator and SP Warp Effects
* Time FX Module with Stereo Spread, Left/Right Delay, Flanger, Phaser and Chorus Effects
* Over 250 Models included (Strings / Percussion / Pianos / Pads / Reed / Plugged / Basses / Drums / Solo Instruments / Bells / Brass / Voices EFX / Loops / Organs, etc.)
* Each Model can be manipulated with 12 Parameters (6 x Scape / 6 x Sphere Parameters) that have been detected when analyzing the original sound.
* 10 different Parameter sets - depending on the specific Model characteristics
* Over 300 Sounds included
* hardware controller with 4 freely definable encoder knobs, 1 stick controller, 1 select button / 3 LEDs (connects via the USB port of your computer)

System Requirements
PC
* Windows Version: XP
* Processor: Intel Pentium III, IV and compatible processors
* Minimum Processor Speed: 850 MHz
* Recommended Processor Speed: > 2 GHz
* RAM minimum: 256 MB
* RAM recommended: 512 MB
* Harddisk space: 2 GB
* VST 2.0 compatible host application
* Soundcard: 44.1 kHz, 16 bit stereo

Mac
* MAC OS Version: OS X 10.2
* Processor: G4, G5
* Minimum Processor Speed: 800 MHz
* Recommended Processor Speed: > 1 GHz
* RAM minimum: 256 MB
* RAM recommended: 512 MB
* Harddisk space: 2 GB
* VST 2.0 compatible host application
* Soundcard: 44.1 kHz, 16 bit stereo (all MACs)"

Quasimidi Rave-o-lution 309

via this auction.

"The Quasimidi Story
Quasimidi was a german manufacturer located in Kirchhain, Germany. Since 1988 the company´s new location was Rauschenberg, Germany. At first the company worked on the MIDI-market. Later it is well known as a producer of Synthezisers. Quasimidi was founded by Freidhelm Haar and Jörg Reichstein in 1987. Nowadays Quasimidi is out of business...

Quasimidi Rave-O-lution RELEASE DATE WAS IN 1996

LIST PRICE: $1295 STREET PRICE: $899

THIS IS A VERY RARE LIMITED PRODUCTION MODEL DUE TO LEGAL ISSUES FROM OTHER COMPANIES THEY 'BORROWED TECHNOLOGY FROM'."

Anyone know what this is in reference to? It seems vaguely familiar, but I forget.

Yamaha CS60 Combo Synthesizer Service Manual

via this auction.

Anyone know what the "combo" is in reference to?

JoMoX XBase09

images via this auction
"XBase09 Instrument Features:
* The sound generation of the Bass Drum is completely true analog, being realized with true discreet circuitry. The number of its parameters (tuning, decay, etc.) and the amount you can vary the parameters exceeds those on vintage drum machines. The XBase09 can provide kick drums ranging from very extreme, hard and punchy kicks, to pure 808-style booms, with ultra deep sub basses down to 25Hz and decay times which will exceed vintage instruments. If you choose, the Xbase09 also allows you to tune the kick drum chromatically, allowing you to create the very purest basslines you've ever heard coming from a kick drum. The Bass Drum, having 8 parameters for control (in addition to volume), is a complete instrument itself.

* The sound generation of the Snare Drum is also completely true analog, again being realized with true discreet circuitry. Once again, along with its increased parameter control, the Snare Drum offers two oscillators which, when detuned, offer the convincing sound of a Cowbell.

* The sample-based Hi Hat/Percussion section features Open/Close HiHat (of course), along with Rimshot, Claps, Crash Cymbal and Ride Cymbal. This section, which also features Tuning and Decay parameters which are much more variable than those on vintage instruments, uses original vintage 6-bit samples with true analog sound processing, translating into powerful and cutting electronic percussion instead of polished, clean and polite sounds. Each sound can also be individually reversed (individually by step!). Also, a white noise sample has been included to throw extra spice into your pattern.

* All parameters on all instruments are digitally controlled and storable. Every parameter knob sends and receives midi data. So, if you'd like to do wild sweeps, extreme filter changes, or linear tuning rides, you could simply twist the knob, edit the data in your midi sequencer and sent it back. And, because all of the sound parameters have direct access into the sound generation circuitry, they work extremely fast!

There is also a full sequencer in the XBase09, please see the Jomox website below for information on the sequencer features also included in this great analog drum synth.

XBase 09 Drum Machine info from JoMoX website:
We'd like to think that the Xbase09 is the ultimate analog drum machine. Certainly, that's what we've tried to create. Yes, we have built the Xbase09 to offer the very best in sonic analog quality by using today's best technologies offering advanced parameter control. But we've tried to take the Xbase09 much further by including a knob-filled interface, each knob sending and receiving its own midi data. We've included storage memory for storing your favorite patterns, sounds and songs. We built 2 flexible, analog LFO's into each unit. We've included what we feel are advanced implementations of Groove/Shuffle and Accent functions. We've included control over 3 external midi tracks. And we've done this all in a compact casing which is just as much at home on the road as it is on your desk in the studio. And finally, yes, we've included the real wood side panels (no extra charge!). Rock on.

Full XBase 09 drum machine description on the JoMoX website here
Audio samples of the JoMoX XBase Drum Machine here"

Ableton Startup Screen

via Inteliko.

click the image and read.

The Shape Of Things That Hum

Uploaded on Feb 1, 2011 The Soundtrack of Zapresic

"Mini Moog 00:12
Vocoder 09:45
DX7 20:19
Fairlight 30:27
Simmons 40:12
TB-303 50:27

TB-808 1.01.01
Akai Sampler 1.11.20

The Shape of Things That Hum
is a synthesizer documentary series that first aired by Channel 4 in the UK during 2001.

The series focused on electronic instruments that helped shaped modern music, with every episode focusing on a specific instrument. The episodes were broadcast between 01.30am and 01.41am, and featured musicians talking about classic vintage synthesizers, including the DX7 that defined the sound of the 1980s.


Production company Allied Forces
Producer Jacques Peretti
First broadcast 2001
Original channel Channel 4 (UK)
Genre documentary
No. of episodes 8
Length 11 minutes (episode)

Episodes:

Mini Moog (15-01-2001) - Cult electronic instruments that helped to shape modern music.

Vocoder (22-01-2001) - Developed as a scrambling device in World War II, includes interviews with Orbital and Rick Wakeman.

DX7 (29-01-2001) - Synthesizer that defined the sound of the 1980s. Interviews with Vince Clarke and Nick Rhodes.

Fairlight (05-02-2001) - Computer based snthesizer offering sampling, digital recording, sequencing and editing. Includes Nick Rhodes.

Simmons (12-02-2001) - Includes producer Arthur Baker talking about making "Planet Rock".

Roland TB-303 (19-02-2001) - House innovators Coldcut and Orbital discuss the Roland 303 synthesizer.

Roland TB-808 (26-02-2001) - Includes producer Arthur Baker, plus Ray Keith talks about the importance of the bass.

Akai Sampler (05-03-2001) - Instrument that helped fuel the rave scene and the white label explosion"

Old post before Google video was laid to rest:

The Shape Of Things That Hum - Minimoog


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Roland TR-808


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Roland TB-303


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Simmons Drums


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Vocoder


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Fairlight


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Yamaha DX7


The Shape Of Things That Hum - AKAI Sampler


I actually put the AKAI Sampler vid up here.

friend

flickr by buryn (click for more)

full size

Roland System 100 and pig.

Spectralhead Audio SilverBox

Another TB-303 clone, this one from Spectralhead Audio.

"At the beginning of the 80s, a new bass synth appeared on the market. Aimed at bass-guitarists, it featured an in-built sequencer with slides and accents. Only about a decade later did it become one of the most popular instruments in certain styles of acid, techno, house and trance music. Since that, numerous copies and software and hardware emulations have been born, which all try to grasp the character of this wonderful synth. We did our best to reincarnate this instrument as an authentic-sounding, convenient and easy-to-use VSTi plugin. Countless hours were spent on analysis and measurements, with the goal of making the most-authentic sounding emulation. As a result of the research, SilverBox was born, 25 years after the creation of the machine.
.: Features :.

* Authentic monophonic analog bassline emulation
* Easy-to-use interface
* Oscillator with saw/square waveforms
* 18 dB/oct. analog modeled multimode filter, lowpass/highpass/bandpass modes
* Sequencer with piano roll, accent & slide
* Variable pattern length (1-16)
* Advanced randomize functions
* 16x oversampled distortion with minimum aliasing (soft, hard clipping, soft foldback, hard foldback)
* Optimized DSP code using SIMD instructions
* Customizable MIDI CC automation "

click here for more info including sample comparisons.

Rod Hunter - Apache ( Moog ) Only 1 Minute for Demo purposes

"http://www.dariointernet.com

Important: Less than 1 minute for demonstration purposes. Sample taken from a vinyl record copy.

Keywords: I used to own the iranian 7" copy of this when I was a child. I was one or two years old. The iranian jacket appears in this clip. Listening to the wierd sound of this record as a child while looking at the record turning has definitly had an effect on me. 1973 The recording seams to originate from France . Its kind of psychotic , psychodelic ( psicodelic ). I'm sure dance music and hinrg and italo disco lovers will appreciate this. Quite rare and difficult to find. I don't think it is available on cd. Introvabili gliintrovabili"

I had the original video for Apache posted here but it looks like the video is no longer available. I checked YouTube and only found the Apache vs. covers. I have the Prodigy one up in that post. If anyone finds the original let me know and I'll update this post. You can either leave a comment or email me. My contact info is on the bottom right of the site.

Ambient

YouTube via sakrobeat.
"Some ambient improvisation made with my synths: Waldorf Micro Q, EMU Vintage Keys, Microkorg, PAIA 9700S and a Roland MKB 200 Masterkeyboard"

Open Labs Introduction to mFusion

YouTube via OpenLabsInc.

Casio CT410v Vintage Analog Synthesizer

"a short Rhytm Sequence through the real Analogfilter.This Casio Keyboard is very rare to find,and it is better then Casio MT 68,Casio MT68 because there are only Preset Sounds."

Casiotone CT-410V Part.2


"First i have played some with Pipe Organ Sound with the fantastic Casio Stereo chorus , it tunes like a "Roland"Stereochorus,Drums are normal,later Drums through the Filter,Pipes Sound normal, but in the end with Stereochorus again."

Casio CT410v Vintage Analog Synthesizer Part.3

YouTube via jopachelbel.

"little Bach Musette D major,from: 'Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach'"

Update:

YouTube via jopachelbel.

"I have played an old Beatles Tune,"Ill Follow The Sun".The Lead melody is going through the real analog Filter with Parameter Resonance and Cutoff.."

Quickie808Video

YouTube via ThomasInSF.

Beaver and Krause - Peace Three - Moog Synthesizer (YouTube)

YouTube via Frritzz.
"Also on Google Video in stereo.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...

Some more uploads of my records playing on the Pioneer PL-518.

The video appears slightly tilted, perhaps you can bear with that. In future videos, I gotta pay attention to the level on the tripod.

Using my Sony CCD-TRV608 camcorder.

From "The Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music" by Paul Beaver and Bernard T. Krause. "Peace Three" is the first and last track on the album. All done on the Moog synthesizer.

Back in late '80s I found this album at a flea market. It didn't have the booklet but the records were almost like new. Some days later, again at a flea market. I found the album with the booklet, in very good shape. So, I sold the one without the booklet. The customer was happy, nonetheless."

Update via the comments:
"This is "Fr-ritz" the one who uploaded the video. The YouTube video embeded in this blog is in mono. You can listen to this in stereo by downloading it from Google Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7671769399545658346&hl=en

Thanks to Matrixsynth for including this video, as well as the ones with the First Moog Quartet."

The First Moog Quartet - To Handel With Love - 45rpm

via Frritzz, also on YouTube.
"You can get the stereo sound by downloading it.

This is actually some rendition of Alla Hornpipe from Handel's "Water Music". My father ... all » got this from a Salvation Army store. He must've made some find. Played on my Pioneer PL-518 turntable.

Redone in better lighting and using my Samsung S630 for better video resolution."

And previously posted:
The First Moog Quartet - Bei Mir Bistu Shein - 45rpm

Bob Moog Interview 2002

Bob Moog #1


Bob Moog #2


Bob Moog #3

YouTube via Samboni72. via Nusonica.

Rhymes With Awesome

flickr by _mpd_

full size

MOOG Little Phatty with Gumby's Pokey.

EMS Synthi Promo Flexi

Click here to get to the downloads on the EMS SYNTHI site.

via PIN

Grant Richter on the Wiard Envelooper

via the Wiard list.

Short version:
"Think of it as a sampler for the control signals that make up synthesis, rather than the audio output of the synthesis. That means it is parametric, which means you can goof around with the routing of signals, reversing signals, switching the order of signals in order to create new phrases from other material."

Long version:
"I can tell you the most about the Envelooper as I am almost ready to start PC board layout for that one.

Back in 1999, a 27C512 EPROM cost about $5, now the 27C801 EPROM, which is a 1 megabyte unit is the same price. So all the new designs are going to use the 1 megabyte EPROM for storage.

The larger EPROM sizes are pin compatible with earlier pin layouts like the 27C512. You can actually wire a Grayhill binary encoder (from Allied for about $15) to the extra 4 address pins on a 27C801 and plug it into a Wavefrom City board. That would give you the equivalent of 16 x 27C512 in the same space. That is if there are now 16 software banks for the Wavefrom City and Mini-wave. Dave Hylanders board is nice because it give you voltage controlled selectrion of 10 EPROMs, but you can fit a chip to hold 16 chips worth with a little kludging to any Waveform City or Mini-wave with a rotary selector switch.

The Mini-wave is a single arbitrary function generator (the least expensive ever offered). The Envelooper is a multiple arbitrary function generator. It has 4 outputs each of which will output one Mini-wave or Waveform City waveform at the same time. The Envelooper is setup to use these waveforms for control purposes.

The Buchla MARF is really nice, except it looks very complicated to use and understand. I tried to come up with a MARF that has an easy to understand user interface. I used something familiar, it is modelled after an ADSR. Each section of A,D,S and R is one 256 byte Mini-wave waveform, so 4 of these play in series (set by ADSR logic) for a total of 1024 steps, each on 4 individual tracks.

The tracks are targeted to certain functions: Track one is for pitches, track two is for waveshape control, track three is for VCF control and track four is for VCA control. But they don't have to be used that way, they are just control signals, and you can route them anywhere in the patch.

I tried drawing the waveforms with Wave256, with little success. I tried a program to
convert .MID files to the control signals, that is OK, but limits you to keyboard type phrases.

What I needed was a way to record actual control signal from all the synths that I have ito the correct format time aligned on 4 channels. Just yesterday I succeded in getting such a system working. I can now record control signals from my ARP2600, 1603 sequencer, all of the Buchla stuff, Joysticks, JAGs, Steiner EVIs and anything else that makes a usable set of control voltage, then store them as musical control signals on 4 paralell tracks.

The Envelooper has several operating modes. In "one shot" mode it behave just like an ADSR, using the gate and trigger signals. When gate and trigger go high, it goes to the attack phase and plays out the 256 values stored on each of 4 channels, then it switches to the decay phase and does the same, unless gate goes low, then it jumps to release phase, or a new trigger will make it jump to the begining of attack. If it gets to sustain, it loops at sustain until gate goes low, or a new trigger comes in.

That makes it sound complicated, but it is very intuative. There are 3 loop modes, in mode 1, it plays A-D-S-R in sequence and the time for each section is adjustable from 1 millisecond to about 25 seconds per section with 4 knobs. In mode 2, only the attack knob controls the loop speed for all sections (handy when you are using it like a sequencer). Mode 3 plays each section in reverse. There is a switch that will link the pitches to the playback speed so it acts like a tape recording would. Slower playback lowers the pitches, and faster playback increases the pitchs.

Think of it as a sampler for the control signals that make up synthesis, rather than the audio output of the synthesis. That means it is parametric, which means you can goof around with the routing of signals, reversing signals, switching the order of signals in order to create new phrases from other material.

Since there are 16 x 256 = 4096 section in the new PROM, I am inthe process of programming all 4096 waveshapes to make some kind of usable musical "gesture". The need to be a bit generic, so it is not just a tape recorder, but has snippets of musically useful material stored and ready to use in your compositions.

No one has ever do anything like it to my knowlwedge, which is the whole point of trying to advance the state of the art.

I am trying to be brief, but I hope that gives some idea of the new control module in the pipeline.

Maybe Gary or Doc will be willing to comment on the "gestural" theory of music analysis.

I am also being inpired by the work of the "sentics" people who relate physical gesture to emotion. Initially, they were studying the shapes of musical instrument key action over time and how it related to perceived emotion. Now they seem to have gone completely "new wave" and generalized the idea to far too much. But the core concept is still useful."

Prophet-5 Demo Record 1978 - Just Bach

via Bitexion, via this VSE thread. BTW, he's looking for tips on how to create "the 'screaming' lead that comes in around 40 seconds and continues throughout the whole piece." If you know feel free to comment here or there.

SCOPE - Oxygene 4 live

YouTube via memoscope. Sent my way via fischek.
"Un video que mezcla imagenes de SCOPE en vivo en la presentacion del 4 de Febrero del 2003 en el frontis de la Gobernacion de Cachapoal, en Rancagua Chile e imagenes de SCOPE en el Planetario de Santiago"

translated:

"A video that mixes images of SCOPE live in the presentation of on February 4, 2003 in front of the Gobernación de Cachapoal, Chile in Rancagua and images of SCOPE in the Planetarium in Santiago."

If anyone knows more about this band and the synths used, please comment. I'm fascinated this performance was in Santiago Chile.

One more:

SCOPE + DIVO - Chronologie 6

"Una pequeña presentación, en donde interpretamos este exelente tema de Jean Michel Jarre"
"A small presentation, which we interpret this excellent theme by Jean Michel Jarre"

Update: one more:
Felipe Paez en vivo: Calypso 2 JEAN MICHEL JARRE

YouTube via grandmoff.

EMS SynthiA Demo, Part one Patching

YouTube via legionhwp.

"Demo by Electronic musician David Talento of the EMS SynthiA synthesizer. Hear this instrument on the Music For Isolation Tanks CD - The Feedback Machine available online at: link"

Update:
EMS SynthiA demo Part 2 - External processing

LELL UDS - Soviet analog drum synth

via this auction

"This drum synth has two independent and identical chanells which can trigged from sensetive drum pads like Simmons or from any audio source\ drum machine, sound card etc.\, two 5Din Inputs and one 5Din Out, sounds tweaked using 24 different knobs, NO MIDI .

listen to some sound examples you can here [ruskeys.net]:
leloops.zip
lelluds.zip"

Edgar Winter

Another image via Gord.

Let's see if you know synth. What is he playing? :)

Spoiler: link

ARP 2500

images via this auction

"ARP 2500 “MODEL 2002” THIS IS THE MAIN CABINET. IT WAS SERVICED ABOUT A YEAR AGO BY JULIE YARBROUGH"

"Oscillators and Insects" on Tiny Showcase

Some more synth art via Gord. BTW, I added an art label for similar posts. I need to find the graffiti posts next, but if you catch any that should have this label as well as any other call it out in the comments or shoot me an email (bottom right of site).

"Gordon Wiebe
Sold out run of 100.
5.8" x 4.55" (plus border for framing)
$20.00

FATHER: Come here son and have a seat, I think you are old enough to hear this. Now, sometimes when a highly resonant daddy saw waves cutoff frequency is modulated by a sample and hold mommy circuit…
SON: beep beep bop bip boop beep bop boop."

Chris Reccardi

"Chris Reccardi is a 20 year veteran of TV and Film Animation and a burgeoning fine artist in the 'Pop Surrealism / Lowbrow' art movement"

And he draws synths. Click here for his website.

pictured:
"How about fiddling with these knobs for a change, Aldo Cosmo"
acrylics on wood / gessobord panel
24x@24"
$2400

and

"polyfonik"
acrylic on wood
gessobord panel
24x24"
#2500

via Gord

Telesisgear LCD Backlights

"We manufacture backlights for Emu, Korg, Roland, Kurzweil, Yamaha, and many other companies keyboards, sound modules, and other gear with backlit LCD displays. With a new backlight we can help get your gear back into fully functional condition.

There is an instructional CD that explains what to do once the display has been removed from the instrument. Add $2.00 for US orders and $3.00 for international orders.

You have the option of doing the work yourself or having Telesis do the work for you. Call us if you want us to do the work.

Small backlight panels are $28.00US and large backlight panels are $30.00US.

We also have new and reconditioned displays available for some Korg, Roland, Kurzweil and other manufacturers instruments."

click here for the website. You can find one currently up for auction for the Casio FZ1, FZ10m, VZ10m, and Hohner HS1, HS1m here.

Roland SR-JV80-05 World Expansion Board

via this auction.

I thought this etching was pretty cool. I hadn't seen it before this. If anyone knows of a better shot let me know. I couldn't find one in the first 10 pages of Google image search, so here it is.

"The World Expansion Board includes 250 waveforms and 255 patches featuring ethnic instruments from Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Its loops sound totally authentic, as I'm sure many of them were recorded on location around the world. There are also some patches that mix and match world regions to create new textures. This board also utilizes the digital effects on the JV/XP/XV or whatever to augment the instruments and create completely invented textures. The pitch bend and mod wheel are set up on the single instrument patches to realistically emulate the physical properties and idiosyncrasies of the original emulated instrument. Here is a list of the waveforms and patches.

It is compatible with the JV80, JV90, JV1000; the XP30, XP50, XP60, XP80; the JV880, JV1010, JV1080, JV2080 and JD990; the XV88, XV3080, XV5080 and Fantom."

Update: a larger image via Tom. Click on image for the full size.

Creamware Minimax ASB

images via this auction

For Minimax audio samples: link

Roland TB-303 Modded

images via this auction

"modified with FiveG which adds CV/Gate/Slide/VCF/ACC inputs for full control (and more) over every aspect of the machine from a MIDI sequencer via any CV/GATE converter or analog sequencer. The filter input allows you to program the filter amount from a sequencer or CV source (pedal, etc.), which is not possible using the internal sequencer.

The TB-303 is THE sound of acid and techno house music! It's a monophonic analog bass synthesizer married to a pattern-based step sequencer released in 1982. It features a single analog oscillator with two waveforms (ramp or square) and has a simple but excellent VCF filter with resonance, cut-off, and envelope controls. There are also knobs to adjust tuning, envelope decay, tempo and accent amount.

How does it work? Well, it's not a performance synthesizer because you have to program a pattern of notes and timing info into it (sort of like a drum machine). Patterns can then be linked into songs. It was originally made to accompany a drum machine, the TR-606 specifically, and provide bass-line accompaniment to guitarists, keyboard players, etc. It was not a successful product in its time. As a result, creative DJs and aspiring electronic musicians found them for next to no money and began using them for techno and acid music. Usually a single pattern is continuously played while the performer tweaks the knobs creating an exciting and expressive musical event.

The TB-303 has become one of the most sought after vintage synths ever! It has helped develop and stylize many forms of electronic music including House, Acid, Trance and Ambient. If ever there was a need for a repetitive bassline/groove or an extremely resonant and bubbly sound, the 303 is KING. Truly a unique machine with a very identifiable sound! It has spun off several imitators as well: Novation BassStation, ReBirth, Doepfer MS-404, MAM MB-33, Syntecno TeeBee, and more (see Related & Alternative Gear sidebar).

Ironically, these days it's become trendy to dislike the 303 again, now because of over-use. But I don't and you shouldn't either because it is one-of-a-kind and it's just got that sound that everyone loves!
Getting creative with the 303 always leads to great sounds! Add a guitar distortion pedal for instant hard-core acid and techno. Use the CV and Gate outputs to control other old synthesizers and get that elastic 303 groove workin' your other synths (especially cool with a polyphonic synth).

There are some custom modifications for the TB-303 which are definitely worth mentioning here. Get all the acid you can squeeze out of your TB-303 with the modification, designed to enhance and extend the range of the 303's filters and sound."